World AIDS Day 2018: Newly detected cases of HIV/AIDS cases decreasing in Mumbai

Mumbai and its citizens have always maintain a never say die spirit no matter how many adversities have struck this metropolis. The NGO’s, health organisations, and volunteers have always fought with resilience against this dreadful virus. Consistent efforts by Mumbai District AIDS Control Society over the last 2 decades brought about significant decline in new HIV infections in Mumbai.

Community based HIV testing for vulnerable population (HRG) in collaboration with Linkages – 75 camps.

While speaking to My Medical Mantra Dr Shrikala Aacharya, Director of Mumbai State Aids Control Society, said, “We have organised special programmes in order to mark World AIDS Day, this year. A carnival programme has been organised for the HIV-AIDS affected-children. In 2017-18, we have done a medical test of 3.9 lakh people. Out of which we have detected 5,702 new AIDS cases.”

HIV/AIDS Fact Sheet – Mumbai

Consistent efforts by Mumbai District AIDS Control Society over the last 2 decades brought about significant decline in new HIV infections in Mumbai.

Numbers of people screened for HIV have increased by 40% in last 5 years from 2.8 lakhs in 2013-14 to 3.9 lakhs in 2017-2018.

Number of HIV cases diagnosed among general clients has decreased by 33.6% in last 5 years from 8,539 in 2013-14 to 5,702 in 2017-2018.

Number of newly infected pregnant women declined from 225 in 2013-14 to 149 in 2017-18 (41.6% decline).

Number of PLHAs reregistered for ART services have increased and currently 37,386 PLHAs are lifelong ART.

A significant decline in HIV infections is noticed among High Risk Group of Female Sex Workers (54.4%), Men Sex with men (20.7%), and Transgender (42.9%) in last 5 years.

Among the people newly infected with HIV, 78% are in the group of 15-49 years, 36% are women.

Among the people newly infected with HIV, 92.2% people have been infected due to unsafe sex, 3.7 5 due to transmission from infected mother to baby, 0.1% people have been infected due to infected blood and 0.5% through infected needles/ instruments.